All passes are available at all park entrance stations. Odessa & Fern Lakes Hike. Ranking of the top 16 things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park, One Perfect Day in Rocky Mountain National Park, 10 Best Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park, 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Complete Guide to the Twin Sisters Peak Trail, RMNP. Not sure either if we should stay in Estes park or grand lake? We have info on this post on how to do this, so make sure you get your permit for each day that you plan to be in the park. Just wrapped up my RMNP trip, ty so much for your help with the itinerary. Hopefully in your case they will be quick! Is it worth going to RMNP if I only have 4 hours? With that being said, you should know that crowds are the largest during the summer months, especially July and August. You'll need to be prepared to pull over regularly to let cars pass that are coming the other way. Thanks for writing in!! Along the way, its a quick stop to see Chasm Falls. 7.4 miles (12 km). You can follow this itinerary during the winter months with some modifications. This year's system has loosened to 75% to 85% of parking capacity. Lake of Glass, seen on the hike to Sky Pond. Located on Highway 34, the gateway to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, the Quality Inn & Suites Loveland hotel is the perfect resting point for vacationing travelers. #3 Granby - Best Place to Stay near Rocky Mountain National Park for Families. If you think you can go farther, and if skies are clear, consider going all of the way to Sky Pond. You will really feel the effects of the altitude. How Many Days Do You Need in Rocky Mountain National Park? And for FREE checklist of the US National Parks, take a look at our article US National Parks List. This is another one of our favorite hikes. With towering mountain peaks, alpine lakes and waterfalls, and the opportunity to hike along the Continental Divide, this park offers world-class hiking experiences. 15 great hikes to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. To the north of the Beaver Meadows area, located on highway 34 approximately four miles west of Estes Park, is the Fall River Entrance Station. Colorado has also designated Trail Ridge Road as a scenic and historic byway. The Fall River entrance also has three entry booths and can sometimes be a faster way to enter the park when it is busy. After the trail split, the hike gets easier and the views of Longs Peak and the alpine landscape is jaw-dropping. Ideally, you want a day with crystal clear skies and no chance of rain. best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. We also really liked the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. Glacier Gorge parking lot and Longs Peak trailhead parking lot fill before sunrise. Learn more about the national parks in our Guide to the US National Parks. Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide. A 2 hour trip from either Steamboat Springs or Breckenridge will only get you to the west side entrance to RMNP. Elk on Trail Ridge Road | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. If so, you need one for each day that you plan to visit RMNP. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: You can learn more about all of these hikes on our post, For full details on how to spend one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, read our post, Two Day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. This has been implemented to limit crowds at the busiest sections of the park during the peak visitation season (the summer months). Cheers, Julie. This "rest of park" Timed Entry Permit Reservation period will be in effect between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Do 4 days if you canthere are a LOT of hikes to choose from here. For example, if you hike Deer Mountain at 6 am, you do not need a permit. The permit system limited visitation to about 60% of parking capacity. These two are the most popular entrances to the park. Clouds start moving in around noon with the storms occurring almost like clockwork between 1 and 3 pm. Here are several to choose from. Drive Trail Ridge Road. What should you not miss in Rocky Mountain National Park? The Fall River entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is located on highway 34 approximately 5 miles east of Estes Park. Hi Is there any stay offered by national park ? The best places to have your questions answered is at one of the park visitor centers. , Tombstone Ridge | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. It is a common misconception that there are fee-free entrances into the Park. Crowds will begin to quiet down in October, but snow on the trails becomes a lot more likely. It is the east side (Estes Park side) of RMNP that has . Trail Ridge Road winds high into the Rockies, taking visitors into the treeless tundra. The permit is in effect from 9 am to 2 pm. Within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park, more than 100 peaks rise above 11,000 feet in altitude, including Longs Peak at 14,259 feet. Cheers, Julie. This entrance is right next to the intersection with Bear Lake Road providing you with easy access to this area of the park. Known appropriately as the "Highway to the Sky," it crosses the Continental Divide at a whopping 12,183 feet. Two of them, Beaver Meadows and Fall River, are just west of the town of Estes Park. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: 6.2 miles, moderate, 4 to 5 hours. Here you'll have access to Holzwarth Historic Site, the Coyote Valley Trail, the Colorado River Trail, Green Mountain, and Onahu Trail as well as Trail Ridge Road. To reserve a campsite at Elk Meadow Lodge & RV Park, call (970) 586-5342. This gave us enough time to hike at least one trail every day, with contingency time for bad weather. If you live in Colorado and/or are planning on visiting the park more than once, you can get the Rocky Mountain National Park Annual Pass for US$ 70 per vehicle. From here, hike the Alpine Ridge Trail. Summer (generally Memorial Day to Labor Day) is peak visitor season for good reason trails are snow-free, the park's wildlife is active, and the wildflowers are in full bloom. From the hotel it's a 15-minute drive to Beaver Meadows Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, while downtown Estes Park is just a couple of miles away. Known as a "scenic wonder road of the world," it traverses 48 miles between Estes Park on the park's east side and Grand Lake on the west, taking in several not-to-be-missed sights. Is it safe?. Cheers, Julie. That means you will not be able to visit the Alpine Visitor Center, hike the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge, drive Old Fall River Road, or visit some of the best overlooks in the park. There are a lot of hikes that start at the Bear Lake Trailhead. This family friendly hike is a great intro to hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Loveland and Boulder are two Colorado cities that are located much further away than the other options for where to stay when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. To visit Rocky Mountain National Park from May 26 to October 22, 2023, you will need to reserve a permit in advance. Ah one for each day, got it Ty !! You can hike here from Glacier Gorge or Bear Lake Trailhead. 6. This area is home to various trails, lakes, and wildlife. Are you referring to the timed entry ticket? Thanks so much ! Colorado Springs is a great weekend trip from Denver if you are looking to explore a smaller city within an hour or two of Denver. Difficulty: Challenging. Also, if Longs Peak is on your list, watch the weather report for your visit. There are many things to do here. Thunderstorms dont happen every single day, but it is something that you need to plan for. The views from the overlooks are stunning. Are current Colorado fires affecting or near RMNP? 970 586-1206 If you had afternoon thunderstorms on Day One, drive Trail Ridge Road in the morning. This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. Running north to south through the park is the Continental Divide and the highest mountain peaks. We are going to put RMNP last so we have time to get used to the altitude, because we are from the East Coast. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. If the weather was clear yesterday, and you drove Trail Ridge Road, I recommend doing another hike this morning. Loch Lake. Kawuneeche Entrance. In the summer months, the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park are hiking, driving Trail Ridge Road, taking a stroll around Bear Lake, driving Old Fall River Road, and mountaineering. Thats awesome that you got Bear Lake permits and thats so COOL that you got them while on Lassen Peak (yes, I cant wait to visit that park). . Located just a couple minutes from Grand Lake, the Grand Lake Entrance is arguably the parks best-kept secret. Watch the weather, enjoy the time you spend in the park, and you might find you want to hike more, or less, than you expected to. This is the best Timed Entry Permit for visitors planning to drive over Trail Ridge Road, recreate on the west side of the park, as well as access Longs Peak, Lily Lake, East Inlet, Wild Basin, and all other outlying areas of RMNP. WorldMark Estes Park. There are sixty mountain peaks over 12,000 feet and many of these top out over 13,000 feet. Site by, Learn about the different park pass options available, Temporary Closures In Lumpy Ridge And Loch Vale Areas Begin February 15 to Protect Nesting Raptors, Winter Adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park, RMNP continues pilot timed entry permit reservations from May 26 through Oct 22, Winter Pile Burning Operations On Both Sides Of Park. The Wild Basin entrance is located 13.5 miles south of Estes Park just off of scenic highway 7. Pre-hike fuel: Near the main junction in Estes, hit up Notchtop . Rocky Mountain National Park is one of our nation's most spectacular national parks with 415sq. Travel to Aspen and Rock Mountain During thanksgiving Nov 08, 2022. Longs Peak Campground on the East Side. Rocky Mountain National Park is open all year. For now, the forecast does call for afternoon thunderstorms from what i can see on weather.com, It depends. How long does it take to drive Trail Ridge Road? On the way you'll pass the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on your right. But this is a strenuous hike and longer than your 8 mile cut-off. You're going to want to start early, because parking fills up fast. If your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park is part of a bigger road trip through Colorado, here are some articles to help you plan your trip. And bring a camera , its a beautiful park! Ideally, plan on spending at least three days in Rocky Mountain National Park. Plan on being at the trailhead by 7am (or earlier) if you want to park at the trailhead itself. Only 0.6 miles round trip, this flat, easy trail circles around Bear Lake. However, if you are traveling in a car, Wild Basin is a wonderful area to explore with trails that reach eight lakes and three waterfalls. But one afternoon, they went until dinner, off and on. Typically this road12,183 feet at it's highest point, remains closed from late-October to late-May. This short, strenuous hike offers sweeping views over Estes Park and out to Longs Peak and it ends at a very pretty alpine lake. You will have to find your own way to the park from Estes Park because the shuttle only runs to the town. Text in English. This includes the best hikes, the best experiences, how to get around, and where to stay. Mills Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. The Continental Divide Trail to Mount Ida. Accessible trails include favorites like Bear Lake and Sprague Lake, and you can also reserve an all-terrain wheelchair from Estes Park Mountain Shop (970-586-6548). Pass Type. The wilderness area includes 355 miles of hiking trails, 147 lakes, 77 mountains taller than 12,000 feet, and the opportunity to see elk, bighorn sheep and moose. Inside the park, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy offers year-round seminars, guided fly-fishing, naturalist tours, hiking and photography classes. Rocky Mountain National Park offers plenty of contrast from one season to the next. Difficulty: Moderate. 2) Wed morning: Sky pond. The Fall River entrance is 4 miles from Estes Park a wonderful little mountain town. Get updates on road conditions on the national park service website. View from Mount Ida | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. I climbed 3 different volcanoes in 3days and it was lovely. You will need a Park Access (Excludes Bear Lake Road Corridor) permit if you plan to hike Chasm Lake or Mount Ida. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. We also have a guide to the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park and how to spend one day in RMNP. Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Forum, Best entrance to rocky mountain national park, Re: Best entrance to rocky mountain national park. 3. Yes. For full details on how to spend one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, read our post One Perfect Day in Rocky Mountain National Park. Funds from RMNP passes insure the preservation of the Lily Lake area and help to maintain the parking lot, vault. 9.5 miles, strenuous, 4 to 6 hours. I highly recommend this particular residence. I was able to snag early AM Bear lake for 3/4 days i am going to be at the park (believe it or not, i snagged it from atop Lassen peak which was the only place i got 5g !!). Evening at the hotel 3) Thur Morning: Mt Ida. The Kawuneeche entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is located 2 miles north of Grand Lake on highway 34. Entrance tickets and fees. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. You can drive Trail Ridge Road, visit the Alpine Visitor Center, hike to Longs Peak and to Chasm Lake, and hike Gem Lake. During the busy summer months, a free shuttle service is provided by the national park service. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: For a full list of our Rocky Mountain National Park articles, plus important planning tips, check out our Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide. Full-Day Rocky Mountain National Park "Over The Top Tour" - RMNPhotographer. You will hike past Alberta Falls, wind around lovely Mills Lake, and end at Black Lake. However, both routes cross high over the mountains and close down once winter weather arrives. Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved continuous road in the United States, cuts through the park from the east to the west. From $73.48 per night. Find out what to do, what to see, tours to join and more! I love all of the information you provide and find your advice extremely helpful. It is located further north than the Beaver Meadows Entrance. If you have five or more days in Rocky Mountain National Park (lucky you! Deer Mountain is nice because the views at the top, but we thought that the trail to get there was a little bit boring, at least compared to the other hikes we did in RMNP. Just be aware that this is also the busiest time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Cheers, Julie. You can learn more about all of these hikes on our post 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sky Pond | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. If you are an avid hiker, you are probably ready to hike some of the longer, tougher, more thrilling hikes in the park. Learn more on the official National Park Service website. Few people hike out this far so this is a great place to leave the crowds behind. Autumn ushers in cooler days, smaller crowds, golden aspen and elk bugling. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. 5. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. RMNP in February Dec 18, 2022. If you are planning your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, this is a great place to start. Flattop Mountain to Hallett Peak. 11. COLORADO ITINERARY: With 10 days in Colorado, road trip to all four national parks (Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Mesa Verde), linking them together with some very scenic drives. Do you think August is a good time to visit RMNP? The best time for this Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary is from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. Afternoon/Evening free to do whatever 5) Sat Morning: Prepare to drive back to the airport for afternoons flight. 1000 US Hwy 36 With numerous hotels and restaurants, and a great location near the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a great place to stay. Buckle in for some altitude gain and, outside of warmer summer months, pack spikes for the hiking trail! If driving Trail Ridge Road or Old Fall River Road is on the top of your list and you have limited time, you may want to enter the park via the Fall River Entrance on the parks east side. For many visitors, the winter months are their favorite time to visit RMNP. Chasm Lake. This helps control crowd levels on the roads and hiking trails. Past the Alpine Visitor Center, you can continue on Alpine Ridge Road and go all of the way to Grand Lake, if you like. This route will lead you up past the Stanley Hotel. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Plenty of room, good WiFi, nice furnishings, and beautiful views from our balcony. Finch Lake is a 4.5 mile hike through pines, aspen glades, and wildflower laden meadows to a sub-alpine lake where the forest surrounds its shores. For more information about where to stay and where to eat, read our, Get updates on trail closures and park conditions on the National Park Service, Learn more about the national parks in our. From the Alpine Visitor Center, drive Alpine Ridge Road back to Estes Park. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Take the shuttle to avoid parking hassles. Driving distance from Denver: 1-2 hours. The Inn on Fall River & Fall River Cabins. Go back to the fork and then take the trail to Loch Vale. If you wish detailed information to help enjoy your time in the park, stop by one of the park's visitor centers. This is a hike that we did on our first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park a few years ago, and we retraced our steps on our latest trip en route to Sky Pond (more on that in a second). For the first part of this hike you will be sharing the trail with those on their way to Longs Peak. The Beaver Meadows Entrance was remodeled . Mills and Black Lake. This is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. From Bear Lake Road, turn left onto Highway 36 and continue on Trail Ridge Road. You have included all of our favorite hikes in RMNP so I think your list looks good! Park Access: This permit gives you access to everything in Rocky Mountain National Park except for Bear Lake Road. Rocky Mountain National Park - Annual Pass. $35 per vehicle, valid for one week. Information? In our experience, they typically just last an hour or two. Dont miss Forest Canyon Overlook, one of the best on the drive. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. The permit is in effect from 5 am to 6 pm.